Virtual Gig Guide: Your weekly guide to the best live streamed music on the net

With the live music scene decimated by the current coronavirus restrictions, artists are going online to perform for their fans. David Roy rounds up the best of recent and upcoming streaming musical performances

SNOW Patrol leader Gary Lightbody was one of the first artists out of the digital gate with his live-streamed solo set on the band's official Instagram account last Friday night, which found him performing a fan-voted top 10 of the band's greatest hits for an audience of almost 10,000. It's been archived for posterity at @snowpatrol – and, by the time you're reading this, it will have been joined by another solo set of fan favourites which he was due to live stream last night. Look elsewhere on the @snowpatrol account for footage of a brand new track written with the aid of his Insta followers which will soon be recorded for release as a charity single to aid those affected by coronavirus.

:: Andy from The Bonnevilles

LAST Saturday evening saw Andy McGibbon Jr from Lurgan/Banbridge garage blues rockers The Bonnevilles staging a full live show streamed live via Facebook from his home studio, complete with an opening DJ set from Black Wax man Adam J Smith (though sadly a glitch in the Matrix nixxed a planned support slot by Kevin Young). The 90-minute set included loads of Bonnevilles favourites plus several tasters from the singer/guitarist's eagerly anticipated solo LP Northern Gothic and some choice covers besides, plus plenty of between song craic as he responded to the comments of those watching at home. The entire show has been archived for posterity at FB.com/pg/thebonnevillesuk – and if you like what you see and hear, be sure to leave a tip for them via Paypal using the address thebonnevilles@hotmail.co.uk.

Buffalo Tom man Bill Janovitz invites you to his Happy Hour live stream on Saturday evenings

:: Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom)

THIS live-streamed solo performance from Buffalo Tom legend Bill Janovitz actually clashed with the aforementioned set by Andy Bonnevilles on Saturday evening – what a time to be alive, eh? – but thankfully Virtual Happy Hour with Bill is now available to view at your leisure via FB.com/buffalotomband, where you'll find almost two hours of BT faves and Janovitz solo cuts performed acoustically in the comfort of the Janovitz family basement. Simply prepare yourself a Martini, log-on and enjoy. Bill was raising funds for venues and musicians affected by the coronavirus lockdowns as well as the homeless in his native Massachusetts, so be sure to donate via the links you'll find elsewhere on the BT FB page – where you'll also be able to catch Bill doing another live streamed solo show tomorrow night at 8.30pm.